Simultaneous Measurements of Intracellular Calcium and Membrane Potential in Freshly Isolated and Intact Mouse Cerebral Endothelium

Summary

Demonstrated here are protocols for (1) freshly isolating intact cerebral endothelial "tubes" and (2) simultaneous measurements of endothelial calcium and membrane potential during endothelium-derived hyperpolarization. Further, these methods allow for pharmacological tuning of endothelial cell calcium and electrical signaling as individual or interactive experimental variables.

Abstract

Cerebral arteries and their respective microcirculation deliver oxygen and nutrients to the brain via blood flow regulation. Endothelial cells line the lumen of blood vessels and command changes in vascular diameter as needed to meet the metabolic demand of neurons. Primary endothelial-dependent signaling pathways of hyperpolarization of membrane potential (V_m) and nitric oxide typically operate in parallel to mediate vasodilation and thereby increase blood flow. Although integral to coordinating vasodilation over several millimeters of vascular length, components of endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (EDH) have been historically difficult to measure. These components of EDH entail intracellular Ca²⁺ [Ca²⁺]_i increases and subsequent activation of small- and intermediate conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (SK_Ca/IK_Ca) channels.

Here, we present a simplified illustration of the isolation of fresh endothelium from mouse cerebral arteries; simultaneous measurements of endothelial [Ca²⁺]_i and V_m using Fura-2 photometry and intracellular sharp electrodes, respectively; and a continuous superfusion of salt solutions and pharmacological agents under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 °C). Posterior cerebral arteries from the Circle of Willis are removed free of the posterior communicating and the basilar arteries. Enzymatic digestion of cleaned posterior cerebral arterial segments and subsequent trituration facilitates removal of adventitia, perivascular nerves, and smooth muscle cells. Resulting posterior cerebral arterial endothelial "tubes" are then secured under a microscope and examined using a camera, photomultiplier tube, and one to two electrometers while under continuous superfusion. Collectively, this method can simultaneously measure changes in endothelial [Ca²⁺]_i and V_m in discrete cellular locations, in addition to the spreading of EDH through gap junctions up to millimeter distances along the intact endothelium. This method is expected to yield a high-throughput analysis of the cerebral endothelial functions underlying mechanisms of blood flow regulation in the normal and diseased brain.

Introduction

Blood flow throughout the brain is regulated by the coordination of vasodilation among cerebral arteries and arterioles in vascular networks¹. Endothelial cells lining cerebral resistance arteries command changes in vascular diameter as needed to meet the metabolic demand of neurons^1,2,3. In particular, during endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (commonly known as EDH), intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) and electrical signaling in endothelial cells coordinate vasodilation among endothelial cells and their surrounding smoot....

Protocol

Before conducting the following experiments, ensure that all animal care use and protocols are approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and performed in accord with the National Research Council's "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" (8^th Edition, 2011) and the ARRIVE guidelines. The IACUC of Loma Linda University has approved all protocols used for this manuscript for male and female C57BL/6 mice (age range: 3 to 30 mo).

1. Equipment and Materials

NOTE: Details of materials required for the protocol can be found in t....

Results

The schematic demonstration of the protocol described above is shown in the attached figures. A brain isolated from a young adult male C57BL/6N mouse (5 months) is shown in Figure 1A. Posterior cerebral arteries are carefully isolated from the Circle of Willis, removed without connective tissue, and cut into segments (Figure 1B-D). From partially digested arterial segments, the intact endothelial tube is produced.......

Discussion

In light of recent developments^6,15,16,17, we now demonstrate the method to isolate mouse cerebral arterial endothelium in preparation for simultaneous measurement of [Ca²⁺]_i and V_m underlying EDH consistently for ~2 h at 37 °C. Although technically difficult, we can measure cell-to-cell coupling as well (see reference⁶, Figure 1). I.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Glucose	Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA)	G7021
NaCl	Sigma	S7653
MgCl2	Sigma	M2670
CaCl2	Sigma	223506
HEPES	Sigma	H4034
KCl	Sigma	P9541
NaOH	Sigma	S8045
ATP	Sigma	A2383
HCl	ThermoFisher Scientific (Pittsburgh, PA, USA)	A466250
Collagenase (Type H Blend)	Sigma	C8051
Dithioerythritol	Sigma	D8255
Papain	Sigma	P4762
Elastase	Sigma	E7885
BSA	Sigma	A7906
Propidium iodide	Sigma	P4170
DMSO	Sigma	D8418
Fura-2 AM dye	Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA	F14185
Recirculating chiller (Isotemp 500LCU)	ThermoFisher Scientific	13874647
Plexiglas superfusion chamber	Warner Instruments, Camden, CT, USA	RC-27
Glass coverslip bottom (2.4 × 5.0 cm)	ThermoFisher Scientific	12-548-5M
Anodized aluminum platform (diameter: 7.8 cm)	Warner Instruments	PM6 or PH6
Compact aluminum stage	Siskiyou, Grants Pass, OR, USA	8090P
Micromanipulator	Siskiyou	MX10
Stereomicroscopes	Zeiss, NY, USA	Stemi 2000 & 2000-C
Fiber optic light sources	Schott, Mainz, Germany & KL200, Zeiss	Fostec 8375
Nikon inverted microscope	Nikon Instruments Inc, Melville, NY, USA	Ts2
Phase contrast objectives	Nikon Instruments Inc	(Ph1 DL; 10X & 20X)
Fluorescent objectives	Nikon Instruments Inc	20X (S-Fluor), and 40X (Plan Fluor)
Nikon inverted microscope	Nikon Instruments Inc	Eclipse TS100
Microsyringe pump controller (Micro4 )	World Precision Instruments (WPI), Sarasota, FL, USA	SYS-MICRO4
Vibration isolation table	Technical Manufacturing, Peabody, MA, USA	Micro-g
Amplifiers	Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA, USA	Axoclamp 2B & Axoclamp 900A
Headstages	Molecular Devices	HS-2A & HS-9A
Function generator	EZ Digital, Seoul, South Korea	FG-8002
Data Acquision System	Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA, USA	Digidata 1550A
Audible Baseline Monitors	Ampol US LLC, Sarasota, FL, USA	BM-A-TM
Digital Storage Oscilloscope	Tektronix, Beaverton, Oregon, USA	TDS 2024B
Fluorescence System Interface, ARC Lamp + Power Supply, Hyperswitch, PMT	Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA, USA	IonOptix Systems
Temperature Controller	Warner Instruments	TC-344B or C
Inline Heater	Warner Instruments	SH- 27B
Valve Controller	Warner Instruments	VC-6
Inline Flow Control Valve	Warner Instruments	FR-50
Electronic Puller	Sutter Instruments, Novato, CA, USA	P-97 or P-1000
Microforge	Narishige, East Meadow, NY, USA	MF-900
Borosilicate Glass Tubes (Trituration)	World Precision Instruments (WPI), Sarasota, FL, USA	1B100-4
Borosilicate Glass Tubes (Pinning)	Warner Instruments	G150T-6
Borosilicate Glass Tubes (Sharp Electrodes)	Warner Instruments	GC100F-10
Syringe Filter (0.22 µm)	ThermoFisher Scientific	722-2520
Glass Petri Dish + Charcoal Sylgard	Living Systems Instrumentation, St. Albans City, VT, USA	DD-90-S-BLK
Vannas Style Scissors (3 mm & 9.5 mm)	World Precision Instruments	555640S, 14364
Scissors 3 & 7 mm blades	Fine Science Tools (or FST), Foster City, CA, USA	Moria MC52 & 15000-00
Sharpened fine-tipped forceps	FST	Dumont #5 & Dumont #55